EPG: Chapter 4 - Overview and USGBC and LEED

Question 1

agent

Answer 1

person (or entity) who is granted actual authority by the owner to register the project and accept the certification agreement

Question 2

certification level

Answer 2

LEED designation based on point thresholds met, such as LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, and LEED Platinum

Question 3

certification process

Answer 3

a hierarchy of assigned tasks completed through LEED Online

Question 4

checklist

Answer 4

a single-page list containing the name of the rating system adaptation and a series of categories that pertain to the site, transportation, water, energy, materials, indoor air, and innovation of the project.

Question 5

credit

Answer 5

a point or range of points given depending on its credit weighting

Question 6

credit interpretation request (CIR)

Answer 6

a fee-based inquiry to the USGBC as to how to implement a strategy for a certain prerequisite or credit

Question 7

Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI)

Answer 7

A third-party organization that provides independent oversight of professional credentialing and project certification programs related to green building

Question 8

impact categories

Answer 8

the environmental issues that LEED projects aim to address

Question 9

LEED

Answer 9

stands for Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design. It was founded by the USGBC as a green building program for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Question 10

LEED AP

Answer 10

The advanced level of LEED credentials that requires advanced knowledge in green building as well as expertise in a particular LEED rating system.

Question 11

LEED Fellow

Answer 11

The most prestigious LEED designation that recognizes LEED APs who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in technical knowledge and skill, leadership, advocacy, commitment and service, and teaching, mentoring, or research.

Question 12

LEED Green Associate

Answer 12

basic level of LEED credentials that requires a documented, up-to-date understanding of the most current green building principles and practices

Question 13

minimum program requirements (MPRs)

Answer 13

the requirements that a building must meet before it can consider LEED certification

Question 14

owner

Answer 14

person (or entity) who has the authority to hold and control the real and personal property associated with the project and accept the certification agreement

Question 15

pilot credit library

Answer 15

a database of credits that are being tested for future versions of the LEED rating systems

Question 16

prerequisite

Answer 16

a mandatory project requirement that ensures a minimum level of achievement within a category

Question 17

project administrator

Answer 17

person who plays a key quality role by checking that the LEED submission is complete and accurate before submitting the project to GBCI for review and by accepting the review results once the review is complete.

Question 18

synergy

Answer 18

the interrelationship between credit categories, systems, and compoments that cane be realized through the integrative process to achieve high levels of building performance, human performance, and environmental benefits.

Question 19

technical advisory group (TAG)

Answer 19

a committee formed by members of the USGBC to make consensus-based decisions and to recommend technical solutions to rating system development and maintenance issues, based on expertise

Question 20

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Answer 20

a nonprofit organization made up of member organizations, chapters, and credentialed professionals that was formed to promote sustainability within the built environment and has been releasing versions of the LEED rating systems since 2000

Question 21

The USGBC vision states “Buildings and communities will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a ___.”

Answer 21

Generation

Question 22

What are the four US Green Building Membership levels?

Answer 22

Organizational, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Question 23

USGBC handles all ___ products and services. ___ is a third-party organization that provides independent oversight of professional credentialing and project certification programs related to green building.

Answer 23

LEED / GBCI

Question 24

What are the versions of LEED rating systems that have ever been created?

Answer 24

v1, v2, v2.1, 2007, 2008, 2009, v4 and v4.1 (most recent as of 2020)

Question 25

There are ___ reference guides corresponding to a set of rating systems, each with a LEED speciality credential. Each reference guide is a comprehensive manual to guide a project team through every detail of ___, ____, and ____ a LEED building under a specific rating system.

Answer 25

Five | Designing / building / certifying

Question 26

Reference guides for each LEED rating system are only needed for professionals who are part of a LEED project team and are available for ___ on the USGBC website. For those who are not directly involved in a LEED building but need information on a specific rating system, the USGBC provides rating system guides and ___ for each rating system free of charge.

Answer 26

Purchase / checklist

Question 27

What are the five reference guides for LEED v4?

Answer 27

- LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C) - LEED for Interior Design and Construction (LEED ID+C) - LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M) - LEED for Homes Design and Construction (LEED Homes) - LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND)

Question 28

LEED BD+C: New Construction and Major Renovation | The owner or tenant must occupy at least __% of the leasable square footage.

Answer 28

50%

Question 29

LEED BD+C: Core and Shell Development | For use, if more than __% of the gross floor area is incomplete at the time of certification.

Answer 29

40%

Question 30

LEED BD+C: Data Centers | Only addresses _____ data centers. (greater than __%)

Answer 30

whole-building / 60%

Question 31

LEED BD+C: Multifamily Midrise | The building must have __% or more residential space

Answer 31

50%

Question 32

LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors Developed specifically for tenant ___ in commercial and institutional buildings. Commercial tenants and interior designers may obtain credit for making sustainable choices even if they do not ___ or did not ___ the project.

Answer 32

fit-outs (aka build-outs) / own / build

Question 33

LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors was designed to work with LEED BD+C: ____ for the certification of building for environmentally conscious tenants.

Answer 33

Core and Shell

Question 34

LEED ID+C: Retail applies to tenant paces in which a retailer is retrofitting an ___ building and has no control over the shell of the building.

Answer 34

existing building

Question 35

LEED O+M rating system adaptions apply to ___ buildings that are undergoing ____ with little or no construction.

Answer 35

existing / improvements

Question 36

LEED O+M: Existing was created for ___ buildings, not tenant spaces.

Answer 36

whole

Question 37

For LEED O+M: Existing, what activities in the operations and maintenance of buildings satisfy credit requirements?

Answer 37

- site maintenance programs - water and energy use - environmentally preferred products/practices for cleaning - sustainable purchasing policies - waste stream management - managing ongoing indoor environmental quality

Question 38

The two rating system adaptations in LEED BD+C dedicated to homes are ___ and ___.

Answer 38

- Homes and Multifamily Lowrise | - Multifamily Midrise

Question 39

LEED Homes has its own separate _____ even though it is considered a part of LEED BD+C's rating system adaptations.

Answer 39

``` reference guide (LEED Homes used to be a separate category in LEED 2009 but has been moved into LEED BD+C) ```

Question 40

LEED BD+C: Homes and Multifamily Lowrise Residential projects of 3 to 5 stories may be included in the LEED Homes rating system adaptation that corresponds to the ___ program in which those projects are participating.

Answer 40

Energy Star

Question 41

LEED-certified homes are inspected by a third-party and performance-tested to use at least ___% less energy than conventional homes.

Answer 41

20%

Question 42

For the LEED Homes certification process, what are typical verification teams that are used? (3)

Answer 42

- LEED Homes Energy Rater - Green Rater - Homes Provider

Question 43

LEED BD+C: Multifamily Midrise | The building must have ___% or more residential space.

Answer 43

50%

Question 44

LEED ND: Plan is designed for projects in the ___ or ___ phase or under construction (up to ___% completed). This rating system adaptation helps to market and ____ a project among prospective tenants and stakeholders.

Answer 44

conceptual / master planning / 75% / fund

Question 45

LEED ND: Built Project | Projects can be ____ completion or completed within ____ years.

Answer 45

near / 3

Question 46

More than ___ of greenhouse gas emissions are produced by buildings. Another ___ is created from transportation. The LEED ND encourages development that is sustainable and ___ to reduce these emissions.

Answer 46

one third / third / compact

Question 47

Each LEED rating system adaptation has a centralized point of organization, called a ____.

Answer 47

checklist (aka scorecard)

Question 48

What is the purpose of prerequisites?

Answer 48

They are to ensure a minimum level of achievement within each category. Note: points are NOT given for prerequisites

Question 49

How can credits be earned outside the categories listed in the checklist?

Answer 49

credits can be obtained for the integrative process. It is stressed as the foundation for working through all the categories to achieve credits.

Question 50

For BD+C: New Construction, how many points are available for the category Location and Transportation (LT)?

Answer 50

16 points

Question 51

For BD+C: New Construction, how many points are available for the category Sustainable Sites (SS)?

Answer 51

10 points

Question 52

For BD+C: New Construction, how many points are available for the category Water Efficiency (WE)?

Answer 52

11 points

Question 53

For BD+C: New Construction, how many points are available for the category Energy and Atmosphere (EA)?

Answer 53

33 points

Question 54

For BD+C: New Construction, how many points are available for the category Materials and Resources (MR)?

Answer 54

13 points

Question 55

For BD+C: New Construction, how many points are available for the category Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)?

Answer 55

16 points

Question 56

For BD+C: New Construction, how many points are available for the category Innovation (IN)?

Answer 56

6 points

Question 57

For BD+C: New Construction, how many points are available for the category Regional Priority (RP)?

Answer 57

4 points

Question 58

For LEED Homes include many of the same credit categories as the other rating systems, however, the __, __, and ___ categories have both prescriptive and performance paths.

Answer 58

LT, WE, and EA

Question 59

What is the difference between performance path and prescriptive paths of obtaining credits for LEED Homes?

Answer 59

The performance path requires energy modeling and allows some flexibility in achieving building performance. In comparison the prescriptive path has a distinct set of standards that a team must follow to meet credit eligibility requirements

Question 60

Before submitting for a credit interpretation request (CIR), what resource should project teams reference?

Answer 60

The Addenda Database. It has precedent-setting answers to LEED CIRs that may address the project team’s question.

Question 61

What is the total possible points that you can earn through with most rating systems?

Answer 61

110 points

Question 62

The five-step LEED certification process is for what kind of projects?

Answer 62

It is for all LEED single-building projects, except for LEED Homes and LEED ND.

Question 63

What are the steps in the LEED five-step process?

Answer 63

``` Rating System Selection Project Registration Credit Submittals Project Review Project Certification ```

Question 64

What are the two types of review that are available for design and construction rating systems?

Answer 64

Standard review and split review. | Note: the other rating systems must use a standard review

Question 65

The review process cannot start unless what has happened?

Answer 65

All applicable fees have been paid

Question 66

What is a split review vs a standard review?

Answer 66

For a split review, design credits and prerequisites are submitted after the design phase is completed, and then following construction credit and prerequisites are submitted when construction is done. For a standard review, ALL credits and prerequisites are submitted when the project is completed.

Question 67

Under the LEED Volume program, organizations are offered large discounts for certifying ___ or more projects within ___ years.

Answer 67

25 / 3

Question 68

For LEED O+M: Existing Buildings that have been certified and continue operations, they can receive recertification every ___ years or a maximum of ___ a year.

Answer 68

5 years / 1 year

Question 69

If local codes are more stringent than the LEED standard references, which code applies to achieving LEED credits?

Answer 69

Local codes. Also, if the LEED standards are more stringent than the local codes, then both local and LEED standards must be fulfilled to achieve credits,

Question 70

What are the I-Codes?

Answer 70

Developed by the ICC, they are model standards that provide minimum safeguards for people at home, school and the workplace without regional limitations.

Question 71

What is the IgCC and ASHRAE 189.1? What was their ultimate goal in green building?

Answer 71

IgCC: International Green Construction Code 189.1: Standard for the Design of High Performance, Green Buildings Their ultimate goal is to have zero negative impact on human health ad the environment.

Question 72

What does BREEAM stand for? What is it and where is it most commonly used?

Answer 72

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology It is a rating system for green buildings widel used in the United Kingdom.

Question 73

What is Green Globes? Who operates it and how much similarity does it have to LEED (percentage)?

Answer 73

It is a green building rating system that originated in Canada but has spread to the US. The Green Building Initiative (GBI) operates it. There is around 80% similarity/overlap between Green Globes and LEED.